Dental care is a necessary part of your health and wellness. Being able to provide your own dental care is a great way to establish your self-sufficency and save your family money. Below are some ideas on how you can make your own toothpastes or take care of your teeth in a disaster. Basic Toothpaste Recipe • 1/2 cup Baking Soda • 1/2 cup Coconut Oil • Drops of Peppermint or Spearmint (optional) Simply mix equal parts baking soda and coconut oil. Add a few drops of peppermint or spearmint if you want to add some fresh flavor. This recipe creates an effective, yet simple, toothpaste. After you’ve prepared the batch, store it in a glass jar with a lid. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated. Advanced Toothpaste Recipe • 1/2 cup of Baking Soda • 1/4 cup Hydrogen Peroxide • 1/4 cup Warm Water Optional: • 3 tsp Glycerin or Xylitol • 1/4 cup of Water Pour a half a cup of baking soda into a mixing bowl. Baking Soda is found in most commercial toothpastes and is a natural cleaner. If you would like to add glycerin, mix in 3 teaspoons of it now. It (or xylitol) acts as a sweetener that promotes good mouth health. However, it will add a thin layer on your teeth that some people don’t prefer. Then add 1/4 cup of household hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide will naturally disinfect your mouth and whiten your teeth. Emergency Alternatives Before toothpaste and tooth powder came around, people would sometimes use twigs from the Indian Lilac Tree (Neem tree) to clean their teeth. In fact, oils from the Indian Lilac are used in many modern toothpastes and dental products. It has many antibacterial and antiviral qualities. Indian Lilac trees are typically 35-40 feet tall with wide spread branches and fairly dense. It is an evergreen tree that is round or oval and can reach a diameter of 50-60 feet. It has small white flowers and elongated green leaves. Your Ideas Do you make your own toothpaste? What do you use to make it? Comment below to share your recipe.